Automatic Continuously Variable Inertial Transmission

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a gear system with automatic operation designed to transmit the torque from the engine of an automotive vehicle to the driven wheels of the vehicle, in which changes in the vehicle speed is controlled as a function of the torque generated by the engine and of the inertial momentum of the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has its field of application among gear systems for the transmission of torque from an engine to the drive wheels. Belongs to the mechanical engineering field and deals with a model of a continuously variable transmission, made up of a gearbox located between the drive shaft and the driven shaft of self-propelled vehicles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREVIOUS ART

The gear system designed to transmit torque from an automotive vehicle at the drive wheels is also known as a transmission or gearbox. The main types of transmissions for automotive vehicles are manual transmission, automatic transmission and transmission type CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Manual transmissions work with gears of different sizes and are individually engaged and disengaged, since the automatic transmission systems using a gear system comprises a sun gear assembly comprising, reduction gears and crown gears varied number and sizes of the different gears (different number of teeth). In these systems the gears are engaged with each other and the relationship of force/velocity is given according to the relationship between the connected gears.

There is also the transmission system type CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) that simulates an infinite number of gear ratios, since it works usually for a set consisting of a belt that connects a system of two pulleys of varying sizes. Cones, spheres, tori, and other ingenious solutions are used in type CVT transmissions for transmitting torque and continuously variable manner.

On vehicles equipped with manual transmission, the need for gear shifting is performed by the driver and the constant act of driving the car becomes tiresome, despite obtaining a rapid response from the vehicle during a gear change. For vehicles equipped with automatic transmission or CVT these responses are not fast, but comfort in the act of driving is much higher. Most commercial CVT systems are also based on the transmission of torque by friction between parts with sections of variable geometry. Just because it depends of friction, it has reduced reliability and scalability compared with fully engaged gears solutions. Another weakness of CVTs is the process of choosing the ideal gear ratio for each situation, usually delayed and based on complex electronic systems.

The present invention provides solutions for the three problems mentioned: allows comfortable driving, with all the benefits of a CVT; eliminates problems related to the transfer of torque through friction, and implements a simple, instant and fully mechanical feedback, the gear relationship is optimized and based only on the inertia of the vehicle.

The state of art mentions several documents with multiple solutions to problems related to the discomfort caused by the constant shifting of the manual transmission or related to slow response of vehicles with automatic transmission or CVT systems.

The document BR MU8500006-0 (André Luis A. Ribeiro) describes an electro-magnetic mechanism bi-articulated for semi-automatic transmissions, which aims to increase comfort in gear changes without harming the recovery speed, being particularly suitable for motorcycles.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,599 (Kongsberg Automotive ASA) describes a manual transmission containing hydraulic cylinders that facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the gears partially mitigating the existing discomfort in constant gear shifting.

The document CA 2736931 (Automatic Transmitions, LTD) describes an automatic transmission that uses two or more stages of planetary for automatic gear shifting, which makes unnecessary the gear disengagement and the presence of control equipment. This transmission, however, does not solve the problem of the existing delay on gear shifting.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,039 (GM Global Technology Operations LLC) describes an automatic transmission containing 8 gears ratios, which are engaged due to small variations of engine torque. This technology aims to improve vehicle response by increasing the number of gears.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic inertial continuously variable transmission able to transmit torque from an engine to its wheels, being preferably, an automatic transmission with shift control of vehicle speed as a function of the torque generated by the engine and the moment of inertia in which the vehicle is.

This aim is achieved by means of an automatic inertial continuously variable transmission comprising a gear set, a drive shaft, scaling elements, a driven shaft and a lock.

The drive shaft comes from an engine of a vehicle and drives the rotation generated by the motor to the escalation elements. The latter will spin down and will transfer the resultant force to a driven shaft providing thereby movement to the wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the attached drawings illustrate representations of its possible embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a representation of an expanded perspective view of the assembly of components of the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a representation of a perspective view of the mechanism of engagement of the drive shaft and driven shaft of the reduction system.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the gear reduction system and its component parts.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view in detail of the scaling elements that are mounted within the satellite element.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the scaling elements inserted into the turbine.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart representing an Instantaneous Inertial Feedback force that occurs between the components of scaling elements.

FIG. 7 shows a representation of the exploded view of the components of the lock.

FIG. 8 shows a graphical representation of a performance test speed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description that follows with the aid of the figures, which are integral parts of this document.

The present invention describes an automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) capable of transmitting torque from an engine to wheels of a vehicle. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) comprises:

-   -   scaling elements (2), that transfers torque from the motor,         transferred by the drive shaft (3) to the driven shaft (4);     -   a drive shaft (3) which transfers the torque produced by the         engine to the scaling elements (2);     -   a driven shaft (4) which transfers the force produced by the         scaling elements (2) to the wheels of the vehicle;     -   a lock (12);     -   protective casings (10 a, 10 b and 10 c).

The scaling elements (2) are a set of gears, comprising:

-   -   (i) a Reduction system (5);     -   (ii) a Satellite Element (6);     -   (iii) a Turbine (7);     -   (iv) a Finned structure (8);     -   (v) a first ring junction (9);

The scaling elements (2) are immersed in the fluid lubricant such as lubricating oil. The reduction system (5) promotes the reduction of rotation brought the motor to the scaling elements (2) by the drive shaft (3), and transfers the force resulting from the reduction to the driven shaft (4).

In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the reduction system (5) has a rigid frame (5B), which interconnects the gears (5A) having orbital movement. The rigid structure (5B) has a triangular shape and interconnects three gears (5A) of the planetary type, which are positioned, at angles of 120° from each other.

The reduction system (5) has an inlet (5C) and an output pinion (5D). The inlet hole (5C) serves to enable engagement of the drive shaft (3) in the reduction system (5). As can be seen in FIG. 4, the output pinion (5D) is used to connect the reduction system to the driven shaft (4) or another set of gears (5).

The illustrations contained herein have 2 reduction systems (5), however, anyone skilled in the art will realize that may exist a variable number of reduction systems (5), as the required reduction that one needs to achieve. The reduction effected by the reduction system (5), in the example of FIG. 4, is in a range of from 1:5 to 1:25, depending on the number of reduction systems (5) contained in the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) of this invention.

The satellite element (6) has a toothed inner surface and its outer surface is smooth. This satellite element (6) is fixed to the inside of a finned structure (8) and around the turbine (7) is positioned without having physically contact with it. The primary function of the satellite element (6) is to increase the speed of the rotation motion of the reduction system (5) positioned inside.

The turbine (7) is connected to the driven shaft (4) by a first joining ring (9). Therefore, the turbine (7) shows solidarity pivotal movement to the driven shaft (4), but this movement may present proportionality to the driven shaft (4), not necessarily 1:1.

The finned structure (8) is connected to the satellite structure (6) and the hull 10 b. This finned structure (8) is moved by the hydraulic force generated by the turbine (7). Its function is to assist in the transfer of power to the driven shaft (4), making the gear ratios vary continuously.

The first ring junction (9) connecting the turbine (7) to the driven shaft (4), enabling solidarity movement of the turbine (7) to the driven shaft (4).

The turbine (7) presents in its external face elements belonging to the group comprised of fins, magnets or grooves. Preferably the external face of the turbine (7) presents fins (as in FIG. 1). The structure on the external face of the turbine (7) generates extra power, that can be hydraulic, magnetic or traction forces, depending on the type of coupling, which will be transferred to the finned structure (8).

Thus, the conversion of the rotation produced by the drive shaft (3) and their transfer to the driven shaft (4) is due to both the force transferred directly to the reduction system (5), as well as by the force generated by the turbine (7) on the finned structure (8).

The way it is exemplified in the figures presented, the turbine (7) has fins on its outer side. Because all elements of scaling (2) become immersed in lubricating fluid, turbine (7) fins generates a hydraulic force that promotes the turning of the finned structure (8). Thus, as the satellite element (6) is fixed to the finned structure (8), the satellite element (6) and the finned structure (8) rotate together.

The rotation movement of the satellite element (6) is transferred to the reduction system (5) passing to rotate faster and transfers this increase in the speed to the driven shaft (4) and consequently to the turbine (7), creating a feedback of forces in this automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1).

As can be seen in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the feedback of forces generated by the action of the turbine (7) on the other components of the scaling elements (2) changes the rotation reduction effected by the reduction system (5) for a range between 1:25 to 1:1, depending on the variation of the moment of inertia of the vehicle.

Protective casings (10 a, 10 b and 10 c) serve to coat and to protect the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1). These protective casings have orifices that allow the drive shaft (3) and driven shaft (4) to pass through.

The scaling elements (2) are thus responsible for converting rotation produced by the drive shaft (3) and their transfer to the driven shaft (4) due to both the force transferred directly from the reduction system (5), as the force generated by the turbine (7) on the finned structure (8).

The drive shaft (3) serves to take the torque produced by the motor to the scaling elements (2). One end of the drive shaft (3) is connected to the vehicle motor and the other end is inserted into the scaling elements (2). As shown in FIG. 4, the end of the drive shaft (3) which is inserted in the scaling elements (2) has a pinion (11), that has teeth which fit precisely within the reduction system (5), moving gears (5A).

The driven shaft (4) connects to the reduction system (5), the turbine (7) and the drive wheels of the vehicle. The function of the driven shaft (4) is to transfer the force produced by scaling elements (2) to the wheels of the vehicle. The result of this conversion may be speed, force, and a combination of speed and force, according to the inertial moment of the vehicle, combined with the torque promoted by the motor.

The inertial moment of the vehicle is important for this automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) because the turbine (7) is fixed directly on the driven shaft (4), so the rotation of the driven shaft (4) has a directly relation to the strength that the turbine (7) produces on the finned structure (8). The force produced by the turbine (7) on the finned structure (8), and therefore the satellite element (6) is transferred back to the reduction system (5) that causes an increase of the rotation of the driven shaft (4). This succession of transfer of forces between the components of this automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) occurs quickly and without the usual bumps produced by the automatic transmission systems belonging to the state of the art.

FIG. 7 illustrates the lock (12), which is a component of the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1), comprising the following elements:

-   -   (i) a gear (13);     -   (ii) a drum (14);     -   (iii) pin and springs (15);     -   (iv) joining rings (16 a, 16 b).

The gear (13) which is internally toothed and must be inserted within the drum (14) has the function of controlling the direction of rotation of the drum.

The drum (14) is responsible for breaking of the scaling elements (2), working fixed to the finned structure (8).

The pins and springs (15) act jointly for breaking the drum (14).

The joint rings (16 a and 16 b) are inserted on the drum (14) and serve to prevent the wear generated by the movement of the drum (14) and the finned structure (8).

As the drum (14) is fixed to the satellite element (6) both always rotate in the same direction. Thus, when the gear (13) allows the rotation of the drum (14) is the same direction of rotation of the drive shaft (3) the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) promotes the continual scaling of the vehicle gears, enabling the gear shifting occur quickly and without bumps, however, when the gear (13) allows the drum (14) rotate in opposite direction to the drive shaft (3) the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) remains attached, without, however, to transmit the rotation to the driven shaft (4), thus acting as a built-in clutch.

As can be understood by those skilled in the art, the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) of this invention has a reduced number of mechanical components, which reduces the cost of production of the object of this invention, compared to automatic transmissions of the current market.

In addition, although preferably the applications of automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) intended to transmit torque from the automotive vehicle engine to the drive wheels, it can also be applied, in an unlimited way, to the axis of an electric motor of an electric vehicle, the electric motors of tools and appliances, in wind turbines, in electrical and conventional bicycles as well as motorcycles.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been presented, all those who are reasonably well skilled in the art will appreciate the possibility of changes in these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is the feedback.

Therefore, the embodiments described above should be provided with an illustrative and not restrictive character. The invention shall not be interpreted as being limited to their particular embodiments described above. Thus, additional variations to the embodiments described above should be taken into account by those skilled in the art.

The examples are provided merely illustrative of the present embodiment of the invention, and are based on tests conducted. These examples, therefore, ought not to be employed in defining the rights of inventors.

EXAMPLE 1 Performance Acceleration Test

A simulation of a performance test acceleration 0-100 km/h was performed. The graphic in FIG. 8 shows the result of simulation, where:

-   Gray=standard vehicle transmission, -   Black=automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1)     object of this invention. -   X-axis: -   A=Fiat Palio, -   B=Audi A1, -   C=Honda Civic, -   D=Hyundai Vera Cruz. -   Y-axis: -   Time in seconds.

Table 1 below shows the data obtained from the analysis of the graphic in FIG. 8 where it can be seen that all of the vehicles tested had a performance gain during use of the automatic inertial continuously variable transmission (1) of this invention in comparison with the use of the original vehicle transmission.

TABLE 1 Performance acceleration 0 to 100 Km/h Vehicle % gain in time (0 to 100 Km/h) in seconds A 5 B 9 C 10 D 24

EXAMPLE 2

Performance Testing—Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)

The maximum rotation during these first tests was maintained at 5000 RPM, lower than the maximum rotation power of the engines of most cars used in the simulations. Table 2 below shows the test results.

TABLE 2 Time versus Rotation output, in automatic inertial continuously variable transmission Hyundai Veracruz Audi A1 Honda Civic Fiat Palio Rota- Rota- Rota- Rota- Time tion Time tion Time tion Time tion (s) (rpm) (s) (rpm) (s) (rpm) (s) (rpm) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 1 15 1 18 1 9 2 50 2 32 2 39 2 26 3 130 3 117 3 122 3 39 4 310 4 260 4 295 4 53 5 591 5 566 5 575 5 73 6 983 6 945 6 957 6 97 7 1890 7 1813 7 1831 7 122 8 3621 8 3527 8 3544 8 143 9 5000 9 5000 9 5000 9 172 10 219 11 311 12 433 13 591 14 767 15 997 16 1320 17 1892 18 2712 19 3631 20 4321 21 5000 

1. Automatic inertial continuously variable transmission characterized by comprising: scaling elements (2) which transfer torque from the engine to the driven shaft (4); a drive shaft (3) which transfer the torque produced by the engine to the scaling elements (2); a driven shaft (4) which transfer the force produced by the scaling elements (2) to the wheels of the vehicle; and a lock (12).
 2. Automatic transmission, according to claim 1, characterized by the scaling elements (2) being a gear set comprising: (i) a reduction system (5); (ii) a Satellite Element (6); (iii) a turbine (7); (iv) a finned structure (8); (v) a first joining ring (9).
 3. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, characterized by the reduction system promoting a reduction of rotation in a range from 1:5 to 1:25, and transferring the resultant force of the reduction to the driven shaft, and presenting a rigid structure; that interconnects gears type planetary having orbital motion.
 4. Automatic transmission, according to claim 3, wherein the planetary gears are positioned at angles of 120° from each other.
 5. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, characterized by the reduction system having an inlet which allows the fitting of the drive shaft and a pinion that connects the reduction system to the driven shaft or to another planetary gear set.
 6. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, characterized by the satellite element being fixed inside the finned structure and the turbine being positioned around it, moving the satellite element and increasing the speed of rotation of the reduction system positioned in its interior.
 7. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, characterized by the turbine being connected to the driven shaft through a first junction ring, and presenting on its external face structures that belong to the group comprised of fins, magnets or slots.
 8. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, characterized by the finned structure being connected to a satellite structure and a protective casing.
 9. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, wherein the first junction ring connects the turbine to the driven shaft, permitting the movement of the turbine.
 10. Automatic transmission, according to claim 7, characterized by the structure on the external face of the turbine generating additional power, which can be hydraulic, magnetic or traction, for transferring to the finned structure.
 11. Automatic transmission, according to claim 1, characterized by the scaling elements being immersed in a lubricating fluid.
 12. Automatic transmission, according to claim 2, characterized by the force generated by the structures presenting on the external face of the turbine to promote the rotation of the finned structure for creating the rotation of the satellite element.
 13. Automatic transmission, according to claim 12, characterized by the rotation of the satellite element being transferred to the reduction system, that rotate faster and transmit this speed increase to the driven shaft, and consequently to the turbine.
 14. Automatic transmission, according to claim 13, characterized by the feedback altering the reduction of the rotation effected by the reduction system to a range between 1:25 to 1:1, depending on the variation of the inertial moment of the vehicle.
 15. Automatic transmission, according to claim 1, characterized by the lock comprising the following elements: (i) a gear (13); (ii) a drum (14); (iii) pin and springs (15); (iv) joining rings (16 a, 16 b).
 16. Automatic transmission, according to claim 15, characterized by the gear being introduced inside the drum, and having the function of controlling the direction of rotation of the drum.
 17. Automatic transmission, according to claim 15, characterized by the drum being responsible for braking the scaling elements and being fixed to the finned structure.
 18. Automatic transmission, according to claim 15, characterized by the gear allowing that the rotating direction of the drum being in the same rotating direction of the drive shaft and promoting the continuous scaling of gears in the vehicle.
 19. Automatic transmission, according to claim 15, characterized by the gear enabling that the drum rotate in the opposite direction of the drive shaft, and remain engaged without transmitting the rotary motion to the driven shaft, functioning as a built-in clutch.
 20. Automatic transmission, according to claim 15, characterized by the pins and springs breaking the drum of the lock. 